chazrunner

Digital Marketing and Web Design student at MCAD. Computer Art and Animation degree in the 90s.

Expertise:

  • 3D modeler
  • Artist
by virtox
Accused of being fake, witchcraft and simply impossible..
This kinetic sculpture is inspired by the unlimited freedom of 3d printing,
it wobbles and turns with a slight movement of the hand.
Now give it a good spin or puff of air and it erupts in erratic and wild behavior.

This is the 5cm / 2" version, see the Gyro the Forms section for other shapes and sizes.
Corner stand available separately, or get the complete set below!

NEW!
Now also available as a pendant/keyfob!
In both Extra small and Small

Instructions
It is composed of four concentric cubes, each one spinning around a different axis.
The model needs some minor assembly:
Each inner cube has two knobs which need to be placed into the corresponding clamps in the parent cube. It's easiest to start with the inner most and continue outward.
And then... spin it away !

Notes
Do not be alarmed if your cube will not run smoothly at first!
Because of minor variations as a result of the printing process,
some need to wear in a little but will loosen up very quickly.
In the example video I am blowing on it to make it move, it's that smooth.

Be a little careful with (the assembly of) the Alumide version as this material is slightly less flexible/robust than the Strong & Flexible materials.

Get a complete set.
A default set consists of an Alumide Gyro the Cube and a White stand, you can change the materials in your cart later. 118x87_36851_89894_1338413385.jpg + 118x87_387662_147353_1338413388.jpg
addsetbutton.png
 
(136)  
  •  
From: $30.00
 
by Whystler
The nocturnal (or nocturlabe) is a very old instrument for telling time at night by measuring the stars. While concept is ancient, this design is all original. It is fully functional (all dials move properly) and meant to be worn as a pendant. This is now available for sale, as it has been tested and works nicely.

How to Use the Nocturnal:

The top of the nocturnal is where you see a bit of a ring around a spike. This ring can be strung with a chain and makes it possible to wear the nocturnal as a pendant. When reading the nocturnal, this end of the piece should always be up.

Your first step is to set the outermost dial on the date. The months are shown as letters, with January and December at the top, and the progression of the months running *counterclockwise*. Note that the exact position of the letter actually marks the middle of that month. Look closer at the piece and you will see the line that separates the months between the letters.

Now, hold your nocturnal up to the starry night sky, making sure that the date is still properly set. Locate the North Star centred in the hole in the middle of the Nocturnal. Then use the central dial (the one that looks like a pointer) to point to the two stars at the end of the bowl of the *big* dipper.

Once you have this all set. Look closer at the pointer and you will see that within the pointer is an eliptical ring and within this is a smaller pointer. This smaller pointer points to a roman numeral, which shows you the time.

Note again, that the roman numeral is centred on the middle of the hour. So, if the little pointer points in the centre of the numeral, it is in fact half past.

So now you can tell time at night without a powered time piece. This is great for night owls, vampires, and those who appreciate a gothic or steampunk look.
 
(49)  
  •  
From: $22.89
 
by vgenel
A Konoid is an artistic representation of a mathematical object called Sphericon.

It’s hard to believe that being placed on a slanted flat surface it rolls freely in a straight line.
Well it wobbles a little, but it will not stop.
It's available in three different sizes and many materials

From Wolfram MathWorld:
A sphericon is the solid formed from a bicone with opening angle of 90 degrees (and therefore with a=r=h) obtained by slicing the solid with a plane containing the rotational axes resulting in a square cross section, then rotating the two pieces by 90 degrees and reconnecting them.

A sphericon has a single continuous face and rolls by wobbling along that face, resulting in straight-line motion. In addition, one sphericon can roll around another.
 
(0)  
  •  
From: $10.76